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Solar eclipse
Diamond-ring effect captured in a solar eclipse over Java, Indonesia, on June 11, 1983. This effect occurs when only the barest sliver of the Sun is visible around the Moon during a total solar eclipse.
How often does a solar eclipse happen?
Solar eclipses occur two to five times a year, though it is rare for five to occur in a year. The last time five occurred in a single year was in 1935, and the next time five are expected in a year is no earlier than 2206. Total eclipses (with the Sun fully covered) are even rarerāthe average number of total solar eclipses in a century is 66 for Earth as a whole. This rarity is due to the specific alignment required between the Sun, Moon, and Earth for a total solar eclipse to occur. By contrast most calendar years see two lunar eclipses; in some years one or three or none occur.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Rick Livingston.
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